College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China.
Institute of Biomass & Functional Materials, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China.
Nat Commun. 2024 Jun 8;15(1):4898. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-49320-y.
Developing artificial leaves to address the environmental burden of CO is pivotal for advancing our Net Zero Future. In this study, we introduce EcoLeaf, an artificial leaf that closely mimics the characteristics of natural leaves. It harnesses visible light as its sole energy source and orchestrates the controlled expansion and contraction of stomata and the exchange of petiole materials to govern the rate of CO sequestration from the atmosphere. Furthermore, EcoLeaf has a cellulose composition and mechanical strength similar to those of natural leaves, allowing it to seamlessly integrate into the ecosystem during use and participate in natural degradation and nutrient cycling processes at the end of its life. We propose that the carbon sequestration pathway within EcoLeaf is adaptable and can serve as a versatile biomimetic platform for diverse biogenic carbon sequestration pathways in the future.
开发人工叶子来应对 CO2 带来的环境负担，对于推进我们的净零未来至关重要。在这项研究中，我们引入了 EcoLeaf，这是一种人工叶子，它可以模拟天然叶子的特征。它仅利用可见光作为其唯一的能源，并协调气孔的受控扩张和收缩以及叶柄材料的交换，以控制从大气中捕获 CO2 的速度。此外，EcoLeaf 的纤维素组成和机械强度与天然叶子相似，这使得它在使用过程中可以无缝地融入生态系统，并在生命周期结束时参与自然降解和养分循环过程。我们提出，EcoLeaf 内的碳固定途径是可适应的，并可以作为未来各种生物成因碳固定途径的多功能仿生平台。
